Bus Services (No. 2) Bill [HL]

Debate between Lord Holmes of Richmond and Lord Hampton

3rd reading
Tuesday 29th April 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Holmes of Richmond (Con)]

My Lords, I add my thanks to the Minister; it was a pleasure engaging with him over the course of the Bill. He is a Transport Minister who not only knows transport but really cares about it. Can I raise with him the opportunity for an update at this stage? We had a detailed debate about floating bus stops on Report, and from the Dispatch Box he said that the Government would effect a pause in all new floating bus stop schemes. It was very encouraging that the Minister said that, because the Bill does not provide for such a pause. We are a day beyond a month since he made that statement. When he responds, can he give us an update as to what the department has done to bring about that pause in all new floating bus stops? Has the Secretary of State written to local authorities? Will there be a note that goes round? For example, has the department spoken to Streatham to ask it to pause its scheme which it is looking to roll out? I thank again the Minister for his engagement; I would welcome an update on how the department and the Government are looking to put in place provision to enable a pause on all new floating bus stops.

[Lord Hampton (CB)]

My Lords, I add my thanks to those expressed by other noble Lords. It was the Minister’s expertise and enthusiasm in particular that shone through. I thank too the Bill team and the Table Office. We got some truly cross-party support, and it was great fun. It is true to say that, since it has gone through this House, it has become a much safer Bill than when it began here.

Bus Services (No. 2) Bill [HL]

Debate between Lord Holmes of Richmond and Lord Hampton

Committee stage
Tuesday 11th February 2025 Grand Committee

[Lord Hampton (CB)]

I will not comment on the noble Baroness’s age. The Bill is an opportunity to help breathe life into rural areas, to get children on buses going to schools and to get people to hospital. We keep banging on about the elderly and people with disabilities who rely on buses to get to hospitals and GPs. This amendment and Amendment 49, which is not in this group, are absolutely right. I would like to hear how the Government are looking to regenerate areas of so-called social deprivation. I realise that, with bus companies, there is an issue with funding, but I am sure that it is not beyond the wit of mankind to work this one out.

[Lord Holmes of Richmond (Con)]

My Lords, I rise briefly to support Amendment 22 in the name of my friend the noble Baroness, Lady Jones of Moulsecoomb. I do so because, in simple terms, it seems logical and sensible to go to what we could describe as the Beeching bus routes. They obviously had sense and users at the time. It seems a logical place to stop, alight from the vehicle and consider how they could be brought back into being. When the Minister responds, will he agree that when considering the cost of not having such bus routes, that cost should be measured economically and also socially, environmentally and psychologically, not least the impact on the mental well-being of that local area?